Call me a cynic, but even as an enormous and vocal Misty fan I can't count myself among those who want her back in this endless commercial of an anime. I like seeing characters get an ending (will even defend the one in The Dark Knight Rises), and Misty got a reasonably decent one in the form of assuming leadership of the Cerulean Gym. Not exactly a creative ending given that's the way she was in the games, but it's what she deserved after demonstrating that she was a better trainer than her sisters; not to mention a better person.
That also brings her nicely in line with the canon of the games, which although they're not literary masterpieces at all, do put characters through development in the rare instance they actually revisit them. I'd rather modern fans see Misty based on her most recent appearance in Black and White 2, as someone who grew up while running the gym and whose Pokemon Team got powerful as well, than have the series dash it all by bringing her back into the anime at the same age she was 20 years ago, with a team made weaker to make Ash look stronger. Maybe they'd try to base her more on the way she is in modern games, but then again, they didn't do that when Gold and Silver were new, and making her an adult would just call attention to how other people from her time aren't.
I'd love for Misty to be revisited in adaptations that attempt to do better than the core anime, which devalued itself overstaying its welcome, but it'd take an awful lot to redeem the core anime itself now, and I don't want fond memories dragged through that mud.
That would be working under hypothetis how Misty got "closure to her story and how resuming position of Ceruean city gym leader getting out of sisters shadow was all there was to Misty character and story". But reality is largely different with Misty ending as unfinished product with no true ending leaving many questions without answer and a lot more potential existing there to explore her further.
I mean sure Misty may have matured and developed as person. Making it seem like her personality evolved, she became more trusty of judgment of her friends Ash and Brock, discovered her own qualities as person and her friends and Togepi helped her to grow in more open, considerate and confident person. Along with earning sisters respect and putting family gym on right path.
But what about rest of plots and story defining Misty character?
She never became water pokemon master which was her ultimate goal and reason she went on journey in first place. Her dreams of living up to idol E4 Lorelei were unresolved wanting to be recognized worldwide for her water trainer skills. Pokeshippers would say feelings for Ash were left open too, even though personally im not much interested in such subject.
Several things in Misty past about parents, fear from bugs, prejudices in choosing pokemon by looks,not coming to realization how to use her pokemon to full potential(like Psyduck)was left wide open and unresolved. Something like mega evolution concept and way to bring inner strength of pokemon on surface would be of great help in advancing Misty trainer abilities.
Along with writers putting her in catch 22 situation. Situation where character in fiction isnt satisfied with current position, but circumstances doesnt allow him to find way out for time being. Not clearing up situation with Cerulean gym and what will come of her own dreams and in what direction character and story are going to be taken?
Considering how Misty only returned to Cerulean gym out of obligation, specifically stating in chronicles how reason behind being at gym are incompetent sisters expressing desire to leave, not giving up from her dreams of becoming best water trainer.
Leaving her future completely blurred and uncleared. Not showing further progress on her dreams and how will situation wth sisters and Misty desire to become more than gym leader play out.
Bringing game canon and her game counterpart in this doesn't add much either when taken in account how anime never followed pokemon games too closely. With anime version of Misty being notably different from game counterpart in following completely different dreams and never being much interested in gym leader being her "life calling" to begin with.
Not to mention even in games Misty in Gold, Silver and HGSS worships E4 Lorelei just like anime counterpart admiring her battle style. Saying she plans to leave gym leader position to travel, excel her skills and battle stronger trainer. Implying desire to reach higher position than one of gym leader(possibly becoming Lorelei successor). Followed by her appearance in BW2 games for World tournament where she started traveling expressing desire to meet all kind of renowned trainers and defeat them.
Most of all if Misty was gonna be introduced to modern pokemon fans, today kids. Instead of rewriting and reworking everything introduced about Misty character and portray her as closest to game counterpart as its possible to be .They should get to know her in full light and what kind of qualities, ambitions and appeal she holds as animated character. Being Misty most people from older generations grew up with, recognized her potential and value growing fond of her. With new generations being given chance to know what kind of story, plots, flaws and dreams are characteristic for anime version which ended up to be most popular one .
Instead of presenting only late aspect of what her character path ended up to be, keeping most past plots forgotten and abandoned with no revisit or incentive to do follow up. In actually tying down loose ends and go on higher positions as water trainer/specialist advancing forward.
Because this would only give out impression how Misty past and what she wanted to achieve was something to be ashamed of, mistake which should be swept under the rug. When in reality its not appreciating personally liberties and differences writers took with this character to make her unique and tell original story independent from what's happening in games which from looks of it are leaving game counterpart future open ended as well.
p.s,. Now personally im not for Misty returning to pokemon anime and staying there until end of time, Indefinitely until very end of this anime(whenever that would be).
But do I want to see her return as main character or at very least in recurring role for one more adventure? Couple of more seasons to flesh her character and history which introduced her insecurities and aspirations, but never offered explanation?
Show her utilizing newly acquired skills and knowledge she collected in meantime to new situations advancing her story and reaching higher heights as trainer?
Answer from my side is definitive
YES.
With return for one more series not being too much to drag her for longer than needed and overstay welcome. But becoming important part of pokemon show for long enough for knew generations to better know original female lead, for us older fans to get enough time for proper update and what she's been up to during all this years. Alongside sticking for long enough to gain climax and denuaement to her storyline which wasn't met first time around.
Beside I do miss her character and strong personality which would deliver much needed passion, depth of emotions and some healthy suspense in group chemistry and atmosphere of this anime itself. With fact of being old friends with Ash allowing to reach new dimensions and dynamic in friendship and relationship. Due to having history from before and if long separation affected her bond with past friends.
And i think going on brand new quest improved, refreshed and stronger than before making arc of training, entering elemental tournaments(which are extension of Whirl Cup revealing more on what water master means) and working on becoming E4 apprentice (like Lorelei taking her to train with her on Seafoam islands or Siebold from Kalos deciding to take her as protege after managing to impress him)and few years later E4 herself)after proving herself on global scale by fighting all kind of pokemon experts ;would hold lot of potential and substance to do sequel to Misty story.
Something which could be implemented in new pokemon region as I talked about already on 2nd page of this thread, to be more precise under spoiler tag in regards to new games and possible correlation with 20th anniversary.
So as far as Misty go im supportive of her return as female lead for next region or at least through recurring role. Having her instead of new girl for next generation